In an online exchange event called 'Trench Talk', several senior industry participants—including Spike, Jonah, Ash, Hustlepedia, James (from the Planet X team), Soby (co-founder of Xai), and others—gathered to discuss the direction, challenges, and prospects of Web3 games during the 2023-2025 period. The guests not only shared the gaming highlights they observed in the past year but also made bold predictions about the gaming development trends and the 'super cycle' (Gaming Super Cycle) of 2025. This article will provide a detailed summary of the entire dialogue, helping you gain a comprehensive understanding of how the current wave of Web3 gaming is surging.
1. Highlights of Web3 Games in 2024: From Player Reputation to Surprise Works
1. The Strong Debut of RiftStorm
Many guests mentioned the game 'RiftStorm', emphasizing it as one of the most interesting Web3 games recently. Spike mentioned he was 'dissatisfied with RiftStorm's server shutdown time' because its PVE and PVP gameplay create a strong immersive experience. Jonah also expressed great optimism for RiftStorm, comparing it to 'certain variants of Diablo (Path of Exile)'. It is evident that RiftStorm has gained unanimous recognition from players and KOLs through well-balanced monster farming loops, dungeon mechanisms, and other designs.
2. Planet X: A New Force with Mobile Shooting + Treasure Hunting Concept
James, as the head of Planet X, has repeatedly received 'nudges' from guests and players—everyone is eager to gain game testing qualifications. Jonah admitted to having 'requested multiple times for James to let him play Planet X.' It is evident that Planet X has adopted an innovative approach of 'mobile shooting + treasure hunting', allowing players to experience intense and thrilling gunfight gameplay similar to (Call of Duty Mobile), while leveraging Web3 technology to achieve true 'ownership' of in-game loot. As James revealed, the game will undergo more testing in 2025, many attendees look forward to Planet X standing out in the Web3 game space.
3. The 'Icebreaker' from Off The Grid and Collaboration with Mainstream FPS Streamers
If we were to mention one of the most shocking moves in the industry, it would undoubtedly be (Off The Grid) (OTG for short). Hustlepedia and James both mentioned that although OTG might be a form of 'paid invitation' collaboration, it successfully attracted mainstream Web2 streamers to come online and experience it, which is a rare case of Web3 games receiving 'endorsement from mainstream FPS streamers.' Even though there are controversies around 'sponsored or paid promotions,' it at least opened a dialogue window between traditional game streamers and the Web3 game market.
4. Other Highlights: Valeria and Shatterline
Mohanad mentioned that Valeria was initially unimpressive during the testing phase, but after developer Hanan made a large number of fixes in a short period, the gaming experience greatly improved, and he has already 'been addicted to playing for several hours on the plane.' Shatterline focuses on competitive shooting, performing well in small community events, attracting a large number of players' attention, and will soon open a dollar prize pool, allowing players to earn income through gaming competitions.
2. 2025 Prospects: Acceleration and Leapfrog Development
1. Quality and Scale Advance Together: The Influx of Web3 and Web2 Game Developers
Almost all guests believe that 2025 will see more high-quality games flooding into the Web3 track. Jonah even predicts, 'You will see ten times more high-quality games emerging than this year,' as more teams realize that unique gameplay with NFTs and digital assets can solve issues such as 'user loyalty,' 'ecological sustainability,' and 'incentive mechanisms' that are hard to address in Web2. At the same time, some independent game projects that performed poorly in Web2 or lacked development opportunities are gradually turning to Web3 for survival, such as Shatterline's 'return' and Shadowline's 'cross-border'.
2. From 'Speculative Frenzy' to 'Game Quality'
Spike, Ash, Hustlepedia, and others reflected that some previous Web3 games relied solely on 'quick money' hype to maintain their popularity, leading players or creators to eventually feel weary. Now, more and more traditional gaming professionals (game producers, artists, streamers) are joining Web3, focusing more on the playability, immersion, and long-term economic models of the games themselves. Ash particularly mentioned, 'Earlier, a large number of 'shoddy, money-grabbing' games emerged,' which severely drained the enthusiasm of players and KOLs, but as the market gradually becomes rational, 'teams that truly want to create good products are starting to be seen and recognized by the outside world.'
3. Capital and Talent Flow Back: The U.S. May Again Become the Engine
With the return of former U.S. President Trump to the political stage, some guests (especially Jonah, James, Soby) analyzed that if the U.S. regulatory environment shows significant benefits in 2025, talents for Web3 games, including those from the U.S., will flow back. 'Founders who left the U.S. to set up companies in Southeast Asia and Europe may move back to the U.S. again.' This policy dividend, once combined with global capital flows, is likely to stimulate a new wave of game creation and investment in North America.
3. The Topic of 'Super Cycle' (Gaming Super Cycle)
1. Why are games seen as the next major user entry point?
Natural Understanding of Digital Economy: Soby mentioned that many successful crypto traders have experiences of 'reselling equipment and understanding the value of virtual assets' in online games. Gamers have an innate cognitive foundation for digital items and can easily adapt to the ownership of digital currencies and NFTs.
Strong Community and User Stickiness: Hustlepedia pointed out that traditional games like (Call of Duty) and (League of Legends) have extremely loyal communities, and if these communities can accept the concept of 'open markets + NFTs', it will surely bring explosive growth.
Entertainment and Profitability Combined: Spike, James, and others believe that the biggest advantage of Web3 games over traditional games is that players can truly 'own' game assets, even using game props and tokens for transactions or economic returns, thus forming a positive economic ecological cycle.
2. The Transition from Meme Craze to AI Hype
Many market participants will switch their attention back and forth between the 'AI craze' and the 'Meme Token craze', leading to a recent 'gaming narrative' being somewhat overshadowed. However, guests believe that 'as long as the speculative frenzy subsides, capital and attention will return to the gaming track.' Moreover, the combination of AI and gaming is also full of potential, with many AI teams inquiring about how to land in Web3, and the next step will likely see the emergence of an 'AI + Web3 + Gaming' innovation path.
3. Key Elements Driving the 'Super Cycle'
Large-scale Launch of High-Quality Products: Spike stated that previously 'half-finished, single-map' Web3 games could create a huge sensation, but now players' quality demands are increasing. More complete works like Planet X and RiftStorm must be available to create a leading demonstration effect, prompting subsequent products to accelerate follow-up.
Marketing and Education: Soby and Jonah both mentioned the importance of 'education': Web3 players need to understand in-game loops, economic models, and have more awareness of 'how to design tokens to avoid crashing.' Many Web2 users also need to be informed that NFTs and blockchain are not just about 'speculating on coins'; they can bring a more open and valuable game economic ecology.
Stable Capital and Regulatory Environment: The biggest challenge to Web3 game expansion has been the lack of compliance and large-scale investment opportunities. Once these obstacles are further dissolved, it could lead to an exponential growth of new products and users, much like the 'cryptocurrency and ICO craze' of the past.
4. Key Insights from Main Guests
Spike
Optimistic about the industry's shift from 'quick speculation' to 'product supremacy', communities and KOLs will gradually only support higher quality games.
Emphasizing that people are tired of 'the money circle's short-sighted investments', 2025 will see the emergence of truly mature products that can attract traditional players and hardcore gamers.
Jonah
It is expected that the number of high-quality games in 2025 will be ten times that of the current year.
Many teams originally developing games or AI in Web2 will shift to Web3 due to regulatory and economic incentives.
Do not have excessive expectations for the 'next Fortnite'; the core is to take multiple approaches, bringing more types of games onto the chain, allowing the market to naturally filter out blockbusters.
Ash
Emphasizing that too many shoddy games emerged in the past year, draining the enthusiasm of creators and players; however, this also means that the quality of remaining projects is improving.
Looking forward to the emergence of a phenomenon-level game like (Fortnite) that becomes a national sensation, but also believes that the gaming industry needs more time to mature and adapt.
Hustlepedia
Stated that large FPS streamers (like Shroud) have a positive attitude towards (Off The Grid), which is an important icebreaker signal showing that mainstream streamers are no longer completely rejecting 'crypto games.'
Believes that 'games, AI, and Memecoins' will be the three core narratives of the next bull market; among these three, the sustainability and strong community stickiness of games are particularly prominent.
James (from Planet X)
Responded to players' expectations for Planet X, promising to bring more public testing in 2025.
Agreed that 'loosening U.S. regulations' will help more outstanding developers return to North America, and even he might consider relocating to the U.S. to further expand Planet X's global development.
Soby (Co-founder of Xai)
Pointed out that high-quality game development requires a long cycle, from planning, programming to game art and level design, which is extremely time-consuming; this is also why most early Web3 games were simple and struggled to retain players.
Advocates for parallel development of 'educating the community' and 'high-quality products', ultimately driving users to embrace blockchain on a large scale through mature game ecosystems.
5. Summary: Slow is Fast, the Next Wave of Explosion is Imminent
From this 'Trench Talk', one can strongly feel that after the early disorder and bubble, Web3 games are entering a relatively rational acceleration maturation period during 2023-2025.
Product Power is Key: Guests generally agree that purely relying on 'quick money' hype is no longer sustainable; only truly engaging, high-playability games will succeed in the market shuffle.
Favorable Environment Creates More Opportunities: U.S. regulations, industry funds, and incentive programs from major platforms, such as Zai's GCP fund, provide more resources and platforms for game projects.
Integration of Diverse Tracks: New technologies, including AI, are penetrating into games, which may give birth to a 'new form' of Web3 interactive entertainment.
Seize the opportunity; the explosion may come in 2025: Amid the rise and fall of hot topics like Meme and AI, the gaming sector may become the next field for a massive influx of capital and users in a 'super cycle'. Once high-quality products are launched in batches, the attention of communities and capital will quickly concentrate.
Whether looking to 'invest' in the Web3 gaming space or aspiring to develop the next 'universal phenomenon' game, 2025 could be a key milestone worth anticipating. As Spike said, 'Once the gaming track really heats up, it often happens suddenly and catches you off guard.' Before that, the only way is to focus on product quality, build a healthy community, and be ready for this upcoming 'super cycle.' When Web3 and gaming truly achieve deep integration, a brand new era of virtual economy and entertainment may officially debut.
More Information:
Game Public Chain Xai: Binance Square Data Library
